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Moyes urges Beattie to deliver

By Lewis Rutledge

Everton boss David Moyes has told James Beattie to grasp his opportunity.

David Moyes has told James Beattie to grasp his opportunity for Everton over the next few weeks.

The striker has been overtaken in the Goodison Park pecking order by James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe, but both teenagers are currently struggling for fitness.

Beattie looks set to play a major part in Everton's final push for Uefa Cup qualification, and he has been urged to reproduce his top form.

Moyes said: "James Beattie has had to handle the competition. Vaughan and Anichebe have come through and made an impact, but I am sure that there are a couple of young players coming up behind them intent on doing just the same thing.

"Football always has competition and you have to be ready to meet that challenge. Anichebe and Vaughan have put pressure on the players above them like Beattie.

"There hasn't been any complaining from Beattie, he is desperate to be involved and he is a terrific lad to have around the dressing room, but what we want now is for him to be terrific on the pitch."

Moyes hopes Vaughan will recover from a severed artery in time to play again before the season is out, but admits it is touch and go.

"Vaughan is not able to move his foot. We have had him re-scanned and we will have him scanned again on Monday, but with the amount of swelling on his ankle it is hard to make judgements," Moyes explained.

"The season is running out, and he may be back in three weeks. But if it went any longer than that he could miss out on everything.

"We want him back because he has done very well for us. We were worried he might need micro-surgery, but that will not be the case."

Everton's UEFA Champions League campaign two years ago was cut short by Villarreal, but Moyes' desire to experience European football again has been reinforced by the exploits of Manchester United and company this week.

"At the end of a week full of top European matches, it is an extra inspiration for us to taste that again," he said.

"When we got there a couple of years ago, the atmosphere around those few European games that we played was different, very special.

"The feeling that night in Villarreal was something different, something I had not experienced but want to do so again."